Cross country teams do well in G.R.

By Julie Newell
Editor in Chief

The LCC cross country teams competed in their first conference meet of the season on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Raider Invite in Grand Rapids.

“It went great,” LCC Head Coach Jim Robinson said. “It was the first chance to see what the competition (in) our conference and region are. All of the teams in our conference, I believe, were there.”

According to Robinson, there were a total of 25 teams competing.

“Our women ended up being second behind Aquinas and our guys ended up being third behind Northwood and Aquinas,” Robinson said.

LCC freshman Barbara DeGood placed fifth overall in the women’s 5K, registering a time of 19:09. Behind her, LCC freshman Olivia Vanderway placed 16th with a time of 19:42. Sophomore Haley Ellis place 17th at 19:46 for LCC and freshman teammate Jana Stiffler place 20th and registered 19:55.

“(For) our guys, Colin Snyder, who is a freshman, was our top guy, but we had six guys all very close together,” Robinson said.

In the men’s 8K race, Snyder placed 15th overall in 26:07. Not far behind him was sophomore Jacob Dennis, placing 17th with a time of 26:15. Freshman Michael Dennis placed 18th at 26:16 and sophomore Shane Siterlet placed 20th in 26:18.

“I thought at the beginning of the year this was our most talented group of athletes we’ve had at LCC,” Robinson said. “I think their times and how well they’re training and competing are beginning to show that.”

The Stars are scheduled to compete in the Kirtland Invitational on Friday, Sept. 23 in Grayling.

“I’m going to rest our top runners, who got a good workout on Friday,” Robinson said. “We’re going to give our second group of runners a chance to shine and represent LCC. I think they have a chance of winning, both men and women.”